In Milan, in the Ortica district, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace "at the Nettle" (Madonna delle Grazie all'Ortica), also known as Church of Saints Faustino and Jovita or Sanctuary of San Faustino "all'Ortica", is a real hidden treasure of art and history of Milan that very few even know.
Located in the eastern outskirts of Milan, originally the church, one of the oldest in the east, it appeared largely be out of town.
The origin of the church is to be tied to the destruction of Milan in 1162 by Federico Barbarossa. Following it, the inhabitants of the quarters Porta Nuova and Porta Eastern were exiled in the surrounding villages Lambrate and Cavriano.
It is said that the their hopes of returning to the city became prayer and, in 1182, they asked for the intercession of Our Lady by dedicating her a simple graffiti.
Indeed, the following year, with the Peace of Constance, Federico Barbarossa recognized the municipal autonomy of Milan and the right of the inhabitants to return in town. So, the inhabitants decided to thank the Virgin Mary by painting over the graffiti a fresco called "Our Lady of Grace".
In 1182, the sanctuary was founded, originally dedicated to the Saint Faustino of Cavriano.
The sanctuary seems to have been consecrated for the first time in 1370. The building that is currently visible is the result of a reshuffle of 1519, with a new rededication by Monsignor Francesco Landino, Bishop of Lodi, on behalf of the Cardinal Ippolito of Este, Archbishop of Milan.
In the same period, the sacristy was added with a voult covered by a fresco of Leonardo school.
The church has known centuries of decay and, possibly connected to a farmhouse, it was used, during the twentieth century, as a warehouse.
Externally, the building is very simple and almost without decorations, while the interiors are richly decorated with frescoes of the sixteenth century. Very curious frescoes in the nave, where prevail pastel shades of blue, green and, in particular, of pink. They differ from most of the frescoes in the more famous churches in Milan and, if anything, they present some stylistic similarities with some of those present in the Duomo of Monza.
original article, photo and others from: milanofotografo.it